Michael Westley

(University of Plymouth) Lecturer in Architecture

Module Leader ARCH 653A & 775 Connecting Sustainable Practices & Advanced Connecting Sustainable Practice

(Westley Design- Landscape Architecture & Inclusive Design Practice) Practice Principal & Proprietor

C.M.L.I. (Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (U.K.)

F.H.E.A. (Fellow of the Higher Education Association (U.K.)

U.K. Design Council ‘Built Environment Expert Panel Member’

Design Council (UK) Expert Panel- Health & Wellbeing 

Department of Health NHS Design Review Panel.

CABE Space Enabler- public space co-design & place analysis design & training for CABE ‘Spaceshaper’.

Play England Enabler- national training & consulting in play strategy & inclusive play design.

MA/PhD professional consultant: Dr Sarah Bell, ”Exploring perceptions and use of different environments- Implications for health, wellbeing and landscape design” (PhD 2012- October 2014) Research Fellow European Centre for Environment & Human Health (ECEHH, Westley Design ltd. & Cornwall Sports Partnership, secured ESF funding for a PhD exploring communities’ perceptions and use of greenspace areas, specifically looking at implications for landscape design, health and well-being. Michael Westley CMLI, Director Westley Design acted as professional consultant to the PhD. Supervisory team across the 3-year program)

• Public space design – access and inclusion
• Healing and care environments design
• Learning environment design
• Parks and play design
• Gardens Design

Date Appointed to University of Plymouth: September 1994

Responsibilities; (Current)

• Module Leader - Connecting Sustainable Practice ARCH 653a, Advanced Connecting Sustainable Practice ARCH 775 (Diploma 1st Year),
• Studio Lead/ Design Tutor ‘Transformative’ Degree 2nd & 3rd Year, Studio Design Tutor Diploma 1st & 2nd Year.
• RIBA External Part 3 (Architecture) Tutor / Study Supervisor- Alice Pomeroy (Plymouth University Graduate) (2018-2021)
• RIBA External Part 3 (Architecture) Tutor / Study Supervisor- Amanda Allen ((2019-2022)
• Sustainable residential & business landscape design

Responsibilities; (Past Summary)

• Course Design development, management and delivery of ‘Post Graduate Diploma in Landscape Design’ at Plymouth University (from 1994), including annual coursework output collaborations with live clients/ project briefs.
• Course Design development, management and delivery of Landscape Design Option for Undergraduate Studios (Degree 2nd & 3rd Year), at Plymouth University (from 2001) including coursework output collaborations with live clients/ project briefs.
• Course Design development, management and delivery of Post Graduate Theory Module ‘Connecting Sustainable Practice’ (Diploma 1st Year), at Plymouth University (from 2011)
• Course Design development, management and delivery of Undergraduate Studios (Degree 2nd & 3rd Year), including ‘Infrastructure & Wellbeing’ & ‘Transformative’, at Plymouth University (from 2011) including coursework output collaborations with live clients/ project briefs.
• Guest Lecturer at: Cambridge University School of Architecture, Queens University Belfast, Cardiff University, Rhode Island School of Design and University of Falmouth, European Centre for Environment & Human Health.
• External Examining: University of Essex (Writtle College) Landscape Architecture programs (2012-2015) & University of Edinburgh (Scottish Agricultural College) Landscape Architecture (2014)
• MA/PhD professional consultant: Dr Sarah Bell, ”Exploring perceptions and use of different environments- Implications for health, wellbeing and landscape design” (PhD 2012- October 2014) Research Fellow European Centre for Environment & Human Health (ECEHH, Westley Design ltd. & Cornwall Sports Partnership, secured ESF funding for a PhD exploring communities’ perceptions and use of greenspace areas, specifically looking at implications for landscape design, health and well-being. Michael Westley CMLI, Director Westley Design acted as professional consultant to the PhD. Supervisory team across the 3-year program)

Westley Design 2005 – (Practice Principal)

Michael Westley's environmental consultancy, Westley Design, is collaborative - involving a broad range of designer-makers and development professionals in order to develop creative and holistic landscape solutions. This includes partnership based regeneration projects with residential communities, schools, health care environments, businesses and local authorities, often focusing on urban regeneration. Michael’s work attempts to create a sustainable relationship between people and place. The Inclusive landscape architecture consultancy, specialises in the following areas of work: 

• Public Space Access & Inclusion
• Healing & Care Environments
• Learning Environments
• Parks & Play
• Gardens & Residential
• Sustainable Business & Industry
• Training, Research & Education

Clients have included:

• Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust
• Arts for Health (Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare Trust)
• St.Rocco’s Hospice
• CABE Space (Commission for Architecture & Built Environment)
• Creating Excellence (Southwest)
• Play England
• London Borough of Southwark
• Southampton City Council
• Cornwall Council
• Arts for Health (Cornwall and Isles of Scilly)

Examples of recent / current professional activities:    

• As well as his work at Plymouth University, Michael is Director of Westley Design Ltd. The practice portfolios engage with a range of commercial landscape architecture as well as Innovative consultation & collaboration with diverse client groups involving design & planning for inclusion sustainability & wellbeing with project work completed throughout the UK and Internationally.
• Housing and Healthy Places reception, Wednesday 18 April 2018, Churchill Room, Houses of Parliament - As a U.K. Design Council ‘Built Environment Expert Panel Member’ I participated in this parliamentary event to highlight to MP’s the importance of good design in creating places that promote healthy lives.
• South West Design Review Panel, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall Design Review Panels 2015-Mike Westley was appointed by these separate Design Review Panels to consider and advise on key development proposals being brought forward across the South West of England. With particular reference to current legislation, guidance and design in relation to inclusive/ sustainable/ green infrastructure and wellbeing design. 
• Inclusive Design Hub February 2014 Westley Design Ltd. was appointed by the Design Council U.K. to research & produce an Inclusive Design Hub (commissioned by DCLG) that brings together current legislation, guidance and information in relation to inclusive design (including signage and information) in the built environment. The audience will be the range of built environment disciplines plus other interested groups.
• ERDF- European Centre for Environment & Human Health-‘In Residence Award 2013’ Westley Design Ltd. is currently working with Cornwall Council European Centre of Environment & Human Health & Cornwall NHS Trust to develop a methodology for embedding a Community Health & Wellbeing Strategy within individual Neighbourhood Plan Project linked to Strategic Greenspace Infrastructure planning through a Participatory Design GIS tool.
• Design for wellbeing is a key area of practice, a recent example of this can be seen at North York Moors National Park Visitors Centre, Sutton Bank, where in 2015 Westley Design Ltd. completed the design and implementation management of an exciting new play learning & interpretation facility.